Breaking News

Flooding closes several roads

Published 10:00 am, Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Tittabawassee River was expected to reach flood stage today.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, accessible from the Emergency Management link on the county’s website at www.co.midland.mi.us, the Tittabawassee River was measured at 23.73 feet at 6:30 a.m. today. Flood stage is 24 feet.

The river is still rising but at a much slower rate than Monday and was expected to go over flood stage today, Midland County Emergency Management Coordinator Roger Garner stated in a message to Facebook users who link to the county’s emergency management page.

“I am not anticipating this to be an unusual event for us unless we get a large amount of precipitation later in the week,” he wrote.

The gauge on the Pine River indicates that it crested late yesterday, while the gage on the Chippewa River in Mount Pleasant indicates it might also crest this morning. Also, the Sanford Dam is not spilling at quite as large of a rate as yesterday.

The rising water, caused by snow melt and spring rains, has caused closures of a number of streets, parks and roads in low-lying areas.

The list of closures thus far, as reported by Midland County 911, is as follows:

• Tittabawassee River Road between Northwood University and Dublin Avenue.

• Golfside Drive and Currie Parkway

• Emerson Park

• Dublin Avenue at Plumtree Circle

• Tittabawassee River Road at Green Road

• St. Andrews Road between Orchard Drive and Eastman Avenue

• Castor Road at Walter Road

• Barden Road at Grant Road

The Midland County Sheriff’s Office also reports deputies responded to a report of a small sink hole on Gordonville Road at 10 1/2 Mile Road late Monday night. Deputies notified the county’s road commission of the problem.